Under-pressure Maxwell hopes new technique leads to Ashes

MELBOURNE: Australia allrounder Glenn Maxwell is well known for his batting pyrotechnics but hopes a defensive tweak to his technique can be key to locking up the contentious number six spot for the Ashes.

Since scoring a mature and composed century against India in the Ranchi test in March, the man nicknamed ‘ the Big Show’ has failed to surpass 50 in seven test innings and his selection for the upcoming series against England is far from assured.

Aus t ral i a coach Dar ren Lehmann has said Maxwell’s number six spot is up for grabs, leaving the 29-year-old righthander in a shoot- out with other hopefuls in the domestic Sheffield Shield in the leadup to the first test in Brisbane on Nov. 23.

Maxwel l’s faltering output prompted a self- analysis and he was not impressed with what he saw on video review.

“It was a little bit frustrating watching myself back and going ‘I don’t like what I see there’,” he told local media.

“I looked back at a lot of footage and I just noticed a few things creeping into my game.

“I had a very one- day technique where I was able to work the ball sidewards with my hands.

“I basically got rid of that and made sure I was holding my shape a lot longer.”

The correction failed to bring a big score during last month’s tour of Bangladesh but Maxwell said it had already helped soak up minutes out in the middle, as shown by a 98-ball knock of 38 in the second test in Chittagong.

“I’ve really honed a technique that can bat a long period of time and I changed a few things technically to make sure I had a solid defence and something that could sustain long periods of pressure,” he said.

“Unfortunately the way I got out was a bit disappointing, to have the ball just sort of crawl over my body and get to the keeper was a bit frustrating, but the work I did throughout that period showed me that was I was doing was the right thing.”

Maxwell’s lean run saw him axed after three matches of the one- day international series in India but former Australia captain Steve Waugh has backed him to make an impression in the Ashes if selectors stick with him.

“He’s inconsistent but he’s a match winner and there are not too many of them around,” Waugh told local media.

“If he’s managed the right way he can be a force in test match cricket, there’s no doubt about that.

“With him he looks like a confidence player so if he gets picked I would say to him ‘you are playing every test match’ and then you will get the benefit.”

While a handy offspin bowler and an excellent fielder, Maxwell’s batting average stands at 26.07 after seven tests. — Reuters